Big Ten names go in final day of draft

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 years ago

Big Ten names go in final day of draft

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 years ago

The Big Ten had just seven players selected through the first three rounds of the NFL draft. The league almost equaled that total with five picks in the fourth round. And so it went on the final day of the draft, when rounds four through seven were conducted on what was a big day for the Big Ten with 15 picks. The headline pick was Michigan’s Denard Robinson, who went with the second pick of the fifth round (135th overall). Four other Big Ten players were selected before him today, but Robinson was the big name many had been waiting to hear.

Many speculated when the Michigan icon would be picked, as he makes a transition from quarterback to receiver/running back/return man in the NFL. Early word is Jacksonville will use Robinson at running back even though he had durability issues in college.

It also was noteworthy to see Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti get picked in the seventh round by the Vikings. Mauti has overcome numerous knee injuries to get to this point, playing a spirited role for the Nittany Lions during their surprisingly strong 8-4 season in 2012.

Illinois defensive tackle Akeem Spence was the first Big Ten player off the board today, going with the third pick (100th overall) of the fourth round to the Buccaneers. Spence was one of four Illinois players to be picked, more than any other Big Ten school.

Michigan State tight end Dion Sims was picked next, going ninth in the fourth round (106th overall) to the Dolphins. This pick seemed to validate Sims coming out early. Penn State linebacker Gerald Hodges went 23rd in the fourth round (120th overall) to the Vikings.

Michigan State defensive end William Gholston went with the 29th pick in the fourth round (126th) to the Buccaneers. Ohio State defensive end John Simon was the Big Ten’s last selection of the fourth round, going 32nd in the third round (129th) to the Ravens.

The first Big Ten had to wait only two picks into the fifth round to see Michigan’s Robinson get picked 135th overall by the Jaguars.

Illinois cornerback Terry Hawthorne was the 17th pick of the fifth round (150th), going to the Steelers.

Iowa corner Micah Hyde went 26th in the fifth round (159th) to the Packers.

Wisconsin offensive tackle Ricky Wagner was the last pick of the fifth round (168th), going to the Ravens.

The first player from the Big Ten picked in the sixth round was Michigan defensive tackle William Campbell, who went to the Jets with the 10th pick in the round sixth round (178th). Campbell’s selection appears to be the biggest reach of any Big Ten player, as many felt he wouldn’t be picked. Some speculate that Campbell may be converted to offensive line.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead was the only other Big Ten player picked in the sixth round, going with the 22nd selection in the round (190th).

The seventh round saw Mauti going with the seventh pick in the round (213th) to the Vikings, where he’ll play with Hodges again. Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan went with the 20th pick in the seventh round (226th).

Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel went with the 34th pick in the seventh round (240th) to the Bengals. He was a tight end before converting to tackle last season. Nebraska safety Daimion Stafford was the 42nd pick of the seventh round, going to the Titans, making him the final Big Ten player selected.

Northwestern, Indiana and Minnesota were the lone Big Ten teams that didn’t have a draft choice. Rutgers, which joins the Big Ten in 2014, had seven picks.

ROUND 1 – OVERALL

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

31

Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin

Dallas Cowboys

ROUND 2 – OVERALL

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

44

Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

Carolina Panthers

48

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State

Pittsburgh Steelers

49

Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

New York Giants

58

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

Denver Broncos

ROUND 3 – OVERALL

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

86

Hugh Thornton, G, Illinois

Indianapolis Colts

87

Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State

Seattle Seahawks

ROUND 4 – OVERALL

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

100

Akeem Spence, DE, Illinois

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

106

Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State

Miami Dolphins

120

Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State

Minnesota Vikings

126

William Gholston, DE, Michigan State

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

129

John Simon, DE, Ohio State

Baltimore Ravens

ROUND 5 – OVERALL

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

135

Denard Robinson, RB , Michigan

Jacksonville Jaguars

150

Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois

Pittsburgh Steelers

159

Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa

Green Bay Packers

168

Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

Baltimore Ravens

ROUND 6

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

178

William Campbell, G, Michigan

New York Jets

190

Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska

Cincinnati Bengals

ROUND 7

PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION

NFL TEAM

213

Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State

Minnesota Vikings

226

Michael Buchanan, DE, Illinois

New England Patriots

240

Reid Fragel, OT, Ohio State

Cincinnati Bengals

248

Daimion Stafford, SS, Nebraska

Tennessee Titans

***

About Tom Dienhart

BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men’s basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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